The Bozeman weekly chronicle., 1887-04-27

Tie sailor quickly climbed up the lad
ders till fur above the fluttering paper,
swung out on rope that he twisted his
foot around, slid down the rope like light
ming, snatching the paper as he passed it,
and Jumped on the deck with the nimble-
ness Of a cat
After lunch in the smoking room Mug
gins, who was all excitement, said:
"Gentlemen, want to read you some
thing. It is part Of letter that cur Town
send wrote"
Protests rose all over the room.
"Oh, that's all right" continued Mug
gins. "I take the risk and the blame.
am going to fight the devil with fire."
,"Iook hero, Muggins," said Brooklyn,
ssthat's just whnt the devil wants to fight
with. That's his ammunition. You'll
Just burn your own fingers and won't
scorch him."
"Brooklyn knows all about the devil.
That's where satan stays when he comes to
New York" put in BlitIins, who occupied
his. usual seat on a round topped table.
aThose who don't want to hear me
read" cried Muggins, ''can go out"
There was a moments pause, but every
one seemed comfortable where he sat-
'tThis page begins with a broken SEN
tence Then it goes on:
$50 they all are, i'll fact, but the silli-
est is a girl named Granger. My dear
Jim, she's completely gone on me. One
of those unconditional surrender cases,
you know She's awful pretty, but an
awful fool. She's undertaken to convert
me. Rather n heavy contract, you will
say. Well, l should smile. But, jim,
it's dreadful. Never had such an attack
before Took to writing this letter to get
rid Of the morning lesson Reads all
sort of goody goody rot to me which ]
don't listen To, but merely heavc in n sigh
now and then. / only stand it to make
the other fellows green with envy-besides
| they're villainous set'-
| "Oh, see here" cried Brooklyn, "that's
| not there, Muggins. You're putting that
in to prejudice the jury. Even Townsend
couldn't say that Of u.s.
| "Here it is in black and white" per.
sisted Muggins.
"well, all right. We've heard enough
of that letter. .les l want to play
euchre. What are you going to do with
it, Muggins,'
"Do' I'm going straight to Miss Gran.
ger with it. will tell her that this il u
letter from Townsend that concerns her.
That's what I'm going to do with it,
| "Good boy" drawled out Bliflins. do
| you know what Miss Granger will dol
She'll take that sheet, walk straight to
Mr.. Chawles with it, give it to him un-
read and leave you standing there like the
idiot you are. No, Muggins, you've got
the trump cards there and will win tht
game II you let me play your hand. I'll
take that letter and give it to my wife.
I'll tell her that found ID and can't think
to whom 1t belongs. I'll also tell her,
Muggins, that when ! went to read it
aloud to the smoking room that you, sir,
you, Indignantly protested, believing it
was written by Townsend, and that rather
than hear it read you departed for the
cold and pitiless deck"
Bravo, bravo" cried Brooklyn.
'That's great scheme"
"You see, Muggins," continued Blifilns,
IS Muggins handed him the letter, 81 un-
derstand women better than you do I'll
tell my wife not to read it."
That evening in the saloon after dinner
when E. Charles Townsend went to take
his accustomed place beside Miss Granger,
that young lady rose with much dignity
and went over to where a couple of her
lady friends were chatting and entered
animatedly into the conversation. During
the rest Of the voyage Mr.. Townsend was
walked on deck alone he was not happy
for through the open windows of the
smoking room there foated with the
smoke chorus in which Brooklyn's shrill
voice could be distinguished. 1t was:
Good by, Charlie, when you go away,
Write me o letter love, send me a letter love,
Good by, Charlie, when you go away
Don't forget your Muggins, darling.
Luke Sharp in Detroit Free Press.